JC
New York
Joyce Chen
Authenticity
YMCA Youth and Government
Be the government.
Middle and high school students serve as legislators, justices, cabinet officials and reporters, and run a model state government in the real State Capitol.
New York
Debate in the Assembly Chamber.
Middle School Conference, Nov 22 to 24, 2026, and High School Conference, Apr 2 to 4, 2027, at the NYS Capitol in Albany.
Connecticut
Take the oath in Hartford.
State Conference, Mar 4 to 6, 2027, with a day at the State Capitol. Grades 5 to 12.
Rhode Island
Take the floor at the State House.
State House Day, Saturday, Mar 13, 2027. Grades 9 to 12, with a middle school program coming soon.
Judicial Program
Argue the case.
Justices and attorneys argue and decide appellate cases, and the best teams go on to the National Judicial Competition.
National Programs
Take it national.
CONA, the National Judicial Competition, the Youth Advocate Program and Y-Corps keep students going after their state conference.
Change state: New York Connecticut Rhode Island All three
Start here
I am a...
Student: already involvedApplications, running for office, bill writing and your state's conference.
Student: interestedNot in it yet? See how to join, or start a group at your school.
Teacher or advisorStart a delegation, fees, deadlines and civic seal credit.
Parent or familySafety, cost, financial aid and what is included.
YMCA staffBring the program to schools in your service area.
Alumni or supporterHall of Fame, the Alumni Dinner and the scholarship fund.
Looking for more at the Y? Leaders Clubs, Achievers, camp leadership and more. Find your local Y.
Middle school or high school? Grades 6 to 8 have their own conference and rules. Middle school guide or high school paths.
Led by students
Meet your 2026-27 Youth Governors
SF
Connecticut
Shepard Fisher
Active in Our Present, Invested in Tomorrow
EP
Rhode Island
Ella Procaccianti
Taking the Floor
How to get started
From first question to the chamber floor
Teachers, advisors and YMCA staff
- Submit the free Intent Form. It holds your spot and commits you to nothing.
- Book an interest meeting. Get a plan, a timeline and answers for your principal.
- Gather your delegation. 2 to 10 or more students and one adult advisor.
- Write bills together. Use the bill writing toolkit. New groups can start with three meetings.
- Register by your state's deadline. Then head to the Capitol.
Students
- Ask a teacher or your YMCA. Every delegation needs an adult advisor. Your school may already have one.
- No group yet? Send your teacher this site, or connect with us and we'll help.
- Pick your role. Legislator, justice or attorney, cabinet, press or candidate.
- Write your bill. Start with an issue you care about and the Bill Writing Guide.
See it for yourself
Watch Youth and Government
Videos: "Youth and Government: Register Now!," "YMCA Youth and Government 2019" and "Youth and Government at the YMCA"
Three states, one program
Your capitol is waiting.
Each state runs its own session in its own chamber. Pick yours for dates, fees and deadlines.
New York
- Middle School
- Nov 22 to 24, 2026
- High School
- Apr 2 to 4, 2027
- Where
- Albany and the NYS Capitol
Connecticut
- State Conference
- Mar 4 to 6, 2027
- Grades
- 5 to 12
- Where
- Windsor and the State Capitol in Hartford
Rhode Island
- State House Day
- Saturday, Mar 13, 2027
- Grades
- 9 to 12
- Cost
- $250 per school
Bill writing toolkit
Everything you need to write a bill
Bills need seven parts: An Act To, Purpose, Provisions and Definitions, Justification, Fiscal Impact, Environmental Impact and Effective Date. Bills are judged on quality, not agreement.
PDFBill Writing GuideStep by step from idea to finished bill. (opens in a new tab)PDF2026 NY High School Bill BookEvery bill from the 2026 conference, plus the High School debate rules. (opens in a new tab)PDFParliamentary Procedure GuideMiddle School debate rules: speaking order, motions and voting. (opens in a new tab)PDFSample Bill BookReal student bills from a past conference. (opens in a new tab)
LAWLook up a lawCheck current state law before you write.New YorkConnecticutRhode Island
Free for every classroom
The Youth and Government Educator Toolkit
Everything a teacher needs to start a delegation and teach how government works, whether or not your students ever attend a conference. Free for New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
- The 2026-27 Educator Toolkit: read it online, print the PDF, or edit the Word file.
- 14 Storybook County lesson plans, where students debate Humpty Dumpty's wall instead of real legislation.
- Every lesson as projectable slides, with timers and teacher notes.
- 15 Public Speaking Skill Builders students can run themselves.
More than bills and debate
Learn government by running it.
Serve as a legislator
Write a bill with your team, then defend it in committee and on the floor.
Work the committee
Question authors, amend bills and decide what reaches the chamber.
Lead
Run for Youth Governor, Speaker or another presiding office.
Govern
The Cabinet advises the Youth Governor, who signs or vetoes every bill.
Interpret the law
Justices and attorneys argue and decide appellate cases.
Report the story
The Youth Press Corps covers the session as it happens.
Since December 1936
It started in Albany.
Albany YMCA leader Clement "Pete" Duran looked at the State Capitol and saw a classroom. That December, more than 800 New York high school students filled the Assembly Chamber. Connecticut followed in 1944, and the Rhode Island Model Legislature began in 1947. Today students across the country follow in their footsteps.
Connecticut history · Rhode Island history
"Democracy must be learned by each generation."Our history
About 45,000 students in 36 states and Washington, DC, take part nationally. Supports your school's civic seal and civics requirements; schools decide what counts. See civic seal alignment.
Coming up
Key dates by state
New York
- Oct 5Cabinet applications
- Oct 12Judicial applications
- Oct 28Middle School registration, bills, rooming, aid
- Oct 31Press Corps applications
- Nov 22 to 24Middle School Conference, Albany
Connecticut
- Oct 15Governor's Cabinet application
- Dec 18Anticipated Numbers
- Jan 15Y-Corps application
- Jan 29Registration
- Mar 4 to 6State Conference, Windsor and Hartford
Rhode Island
- Oct 31Governor's Cabinet application
- Dec 18Anticipated Numbers
- Feb 5Registration
- Feb 12Bills, candidate forms, Committee Chair applications
- Mar 13State House Day, Providence
Bring your students into the capitol.
One teacher can lead 2 to 10 or more students. The Intent Form is free and commits you to nothing.